Christopher Hampton
Credit: FCSO

FRANKLIN COUNTY — A former Franklin County Sheriff’s deputy was arrested by the Franklin County Sheriff’s Office and Illinois State Police at his home in Mulkeytown Thursday morning pursuant to a warrant charging one count of criminal sexual assault and a second count of custodial sexual misconduct.

Sheriff Don Jones says 37-year-old Christopher N. Hampton is being held in the Franklin County Jail on $150,000 bond.

Jones says the arrest stems from an incident that allegedly happened on Jan. 16 of last year when Hampton was employed as a sheriff’s deputy. The victim, Jones says, is alleged to have been a woman who had been arrested on an unrelated matter.

Jones says he was made aware of the allegation later that same day and initiated a preliminary investigation that resulted in Hampton being placed on administrative leave and immediately losing the privilege of representing himself as a Franklin County Sheriff’s deputy.

The sheriff requested on Jan. 18 of last year for Illinois State Police to conduct a criminal investigation.

Franklin County State’s Attorney Evan Owens referred the case to the State’s Attorney’s Appellant Prosecutors Office. Special Prosecutor Lorinda Lamken is handling the prosecution.

Hampton resigned his position as a Franklin County Deputy Sheriff after the initiation of the investigation.